U.S. House of Representatives Republican leaders
unveiled sweeping legislation on Friday that they said reflects Sept. 11 commission
recommendations for reforming U.S. intelligence operations.

But critics said their proposal for a new national intelligence
director would have far less authority than the panel suggested and raised
concerns that some law enforcement and immigration provisions could bog the
measure down.

The bill also includes far-reaching proposals on law enforcement,
immigration, border security and foreign policy, going beyond legislation
the Senate is to consider next week.

"Our bill is the most comprehensive effort yet introduced
that deals with the problems uncovered by the 9/11 Commission," said
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican.

"We wrote this bill to make sure that we have the best
interests of the American people and the security of the American people at
heart," he added. "We want to do the things that we must do to catch
terrorists and keep terrorists from attacking the American people."

Among dozens of provisions of the House bill is a measure
that would make it easier for government agents to conduct surveillance of
terrorism suspects who operate with no clear connection to foreign groups.

Republican aides said the House proposal would establish
a new national intelligence director post to oversee U.S. intelligence operations
with extensive authority over budget matters. But the Pentagon, which now
controls about 80 percent of the roughly $40 billion intelligence budget,
would maintain significant control.

About a half dozen House committee chairmen have been involved
in writing the bill and those panels are scheduled to act on the measure next
week. Hastert said the full House would consider the bill during the first
week of October.

"It's our intent to have this bill done before the
election," Hastert said.

LITTLE INPUT BY DEMOCRATS?

House Democrats complained they were allowed little input.

"Instead of acting in a bipartisan manner, the Republican
leadership is introducing a bill, written behind closed doors, that attempts
to score partisan points and goes far outside the recommendations of the 9/11
Commission," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California

With national security a major issue in the presidential
and congressional campaigns, House and Senate leaders are pushing to clear
legislation before Nov. 2.

The commission that investigated the 2001 attacks on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon found "deep institutional failings"
in U.S. intelligence agencies, including a failure to share information that
might have prevented the attacks.

It is unclear whether final legislation can be passed before
Nov 2, with only a few weeks left before lawmakers break for some last-minute
campaigning.

Differences between the House and the Senate about the new
national intelligence director's authority over the budget and personnel and
the Pentagon's power would have to be worked out before a bill can reach the
president.

"This is a fairly weak bill," a Democratic aide
said of the intelligence reform proposals. "It is seriously deficient
from what the Sept. 11 commission wanted."

He said a counterterrorism center proposed by House Republicans
would also be weaker than envisaged by the Sept. 11 commission or the proposed
Senate legislation.